Coastal River Charters

Last week conditions were challenging due to spring tides and lots of fresh water. The best fishing was in areas with hard bottoms , relatively clean water and currents that weren’t too strong. The best tide stage was fishing both sides of high water, high incoming and high outgoing. The ladyfish bite was crazy! Plenty of ladies in the three to four pound range! Some seatrout mixed in but ladyfish with their large eyes and keen sight had a definite feeding advantage in the stained colored water. The lady fish bites can be savage, followed by frenetic fights with jumps that are as high as five feet! A large ladyfish has the power to take a fisherman completely around the boat! If we are shark fishing I would call that fish a 360. A ladyfish can be 360! Great fights! One fisherman described the fight as psycho. Definitely a fun fish on light tackle! Catching this fish was said to be a sign of good luck. Perhaps because they are so difficult to get in. If you get one in then good things will follows. I’m not so sure about the superstition. I am sure ladyfish are a fun fish on light tackle and that having the opportunity to play with them is pretty good luck! At the conclusion of one trip we had the lines on three adjustable float rods that were busted either by big redfish, big ladyfish or big sharks. Plenty of action and some powerful fish! One large fish stripped an entire spool of power pro line in a matter of seconds. Bonnethead sharks as large and as powerful as they are could have done something like that. There are some very large sharks on the flats as well some early season stag bass. Ladyfish action can be intense towards the sound. A few flounder caught when the currents slow. Some large redfish landed during the week. The shark has slowed in Wassaw but is strong just north of Savannah. Typically Wassaw has some cleanest water during large tides. The better bite was had by those venturing north. Very nice water in the intracoastal in protected spots where tidal effect was less. Some nice redfish and blackdrum caught in these areas. This was definitely a challenging week. Fishermen fishing close to the sound looking for tarpon and shark struggled. Lots of small menhaden pushing in. Small bluefish are pushing the bait to the surface. Despite what looks like lots of bait the big fish bite is more challenging due to big tides. You could catch quality fish, conditions were just more challenging. Nonetheless last week it was possible to catch nice fish. have some frenetic action as well hooking into some monsters.

The tides are subsiding and conditions will be quickly improving! Often after a period of spring tides fish will hungry and bite will on! Fishing should be good as we head into fall. Plenty of shrimp in local waters! Don Adams said he catching plenty of shrimp running his nets deep. Twice last week I took Don advice and found shrimp ten feet deep. Usually fishermen will cast to the bank. Those throwing a cast net will do the same. Throwing towards a bank will work for smaller shrimp on higher going. For larger bait and eating shrimp throw deeper until fresh begins to dissipate. Most of the shrimp are red legs in other words they are coming in from the sounds. Anticipate seatrout and redfish not to far behind!

Tides look good for the comingl week! Fishing should be improving! One report already of this year’s crop of redfish already legal size. Seems a little early but difference schools can be further along the growth process. Most the reds are still a couple of inches shy of legal size (14 inches). Hope this of help and interest! Remember keep only what you plan to and release the rest.

Fish On! Capt. Jack McGowan

Lots of rain has put a slight damper on fishing. That said, conditions can change quickly! Areas that were holding lots of shrimp are empty. What’s happened? Fish, shrimp and are seeking more favorable conditions. For fisherman it’s a matter of finding those places. Despite a lack of shrimp in local waters Don Adams is finding and catching lots of shrimps. Don is shrimping deep. Fishermen can take a clue when there are periods of heavy rain fish and shrimp are often deep. Sometimes the most effective rig is a carolina rig or better known as a bottom rig. Likely there is a layer of fresh water floating on top of the salt. Also pay attention to what’s biting. If you’re catching whiting on a seatrout drop maybe it’s a whiting day. Fish for whiting. Just after some heavy rain we were catching whiting on almost every drop. While fishing along some with large chucks of mullet for tarpon and sharks we were still catching whiting. My words were I think you guys are meant to eat whiting tonight. For whatever the reason the whiting bite has especially good following the rain. Some shark action. Of course large bonnet head sharks are ever present. Black tips and sand bar sharks seem to be the most abundant. The best bite has been near the sounds. Lots of undersized seatrout, redfish and flounder. As conditions continues to improve the bite will pick up. When catching undersized fish its possible to work up some keeper fish. Typically you’re catching seven or eight undersized seatrout for each keeper fish. In the coming weeks the small fish should fatten up. Large ladyfish can be found prowling around rips and points. Lots of croakers! Although not a fish to be taken it’s good to see good numbers of this fish! Some reports of large stag bass (large redfish) around St. Cathrine’s and Wassaw. Labor day is thought of as time when large stag bass run the beachfront. A few have already been caught! The flounder bite in recent is little off.

August is generally deemed the top month for tarpon in locals. Usually it is. When large baits, large menhaden, push into local waters tarpon will follow. So far some baits have pushed in but the bulk of the bait fish have been smaller river menhaden. Some tarpon have been caught but to date not a particularly strong bite. Don’t count the big fish out. As stated earlier conditions can quickly change. One day last week while tarpon we caught as anticipated several large sharks. We got close to two tarpon but no hook ups. A few tarpon have been caught but at present only a lackluster bite. Most the tarpon have caught on mullet.

Evening tides will be springing this week with tides cresting on Wednesday evening. Fishermen can find and catch quality but conditions will be more challenging. Look for clean water. Try fishing deep for whiting, seatrout and redfish. Those throwing a cast net for shrimp might struggle if water remains brackish. Again conditions can change quickly one or two days without rain and shrimp will once again be plentiful along marshy banks. Despite a temporary set back to local fishing caused by weeks of heavy rain the long effect will likely be very positive for shrimp, crab and fish.

Hope this of help! Fish On!

Keep only what you plan to eat and release the rest.

Capt. Jack McGowan

Fishing has up and down and little of both but overall good. Good quality fish. Some days when you think fishing could be a struggle the bite has been good. Despite lots of dirty water conditions can change rapidly. An area had a poor bite the next day can yield a strong bite or vice versa. What’s going on? It’s nature. Patterns are already being to change. Seatrout that were on the beachfront now be found in the sounds. Lots of small seatrout and redfish. Good numbers of blackdrum and sheepshead can be found hanging around shelly points. Massive bonnethead sharks are prowling the coastal waters of Carolina and Georgia. These are top end bonnetheads that hurt fishing tackle if played incorrectly. Large sand bar sharks are in the sounds. Sand bar sharks are fish that must be released but lots of fun to catch. A few tarpon being hooked up, so far not many being landed. Most of the tarpon are being caught on live or dead mullet. Not lots of big ocean menhaden to be found. On some mornings small menhaden can be found all the way from Thunderbolt to South Carolina. Dolphin quickly show up when bait fish are present. Bait fish that were everywhere can quickly vanish. Those who enjoy crabbing are saying we gotten too much rain and crabbing isn’t productive. The thought is the crabs are seeking saltier water. Shrimping still looks good. Don Adams, of Adams Bait House, is finding good quantity and quality shrimp. Those throwing a cast net likewise are finding little trouble in finding shrimp. Some flounder being caught. The best bite this week has been redfish and seatrout.

Intense heat and afternoon storms has meant the best fishing has been during the morning hours. A few tarpon hookups during the early evening but for the most part the best fishing has been during the morning. Anticipate this to be the case for the next several days. Tides for the coming week looks good. The following week evening tides will be springing but for the coming weeks tides should be good. During the summer try to fish early to beat the heat. When seeking seatrout try to fish current. Anticipate more seatrout action on the inside as patterns begin to change to a fall pattern. Although the flounder bite has been slow action will likely be picking up on through September.

Hope this report is of help and interest! Only keep what you plan to eat and release the rest!

Fish On! Capt. Jack McGowan